The Meaning of Baptism

Just as faith has been redefined "a leap into the dark," and repentance has been wrongly defined as mere "sorrow," so baptism has been misdefined as "sprinkling" or "pouring" water on someone. Since these words are so often mishandled, we must consult the source, the Bible, to be sure that we have proper definitions.

Greek-to-English dictionaries are called lexicons, and they provide the meaning of the word baptize as it should be properly translated. Lexicons translate the Greek word baptizo as "to dip, plunge, immerse." To render baptizo as "baptize" is to fail to translate it; it has just been made into an English word (transliterated).

So here we are, several hundred years removed from the Greek language, in which the New Testament was written. Can we determine what the Greek word baptizo means without knowing the Greek—just from reading and studying the New Testament? Certainly.

Notice: John "was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there" (John 3:23). Neither sprinkling a few drops of water on someone nor pouring water over a person's head would require "much water." Immersing someone underneath the water would.

Consider the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip was preaching Jesus to the man, and he wanted to know if there was anything standing in his way that would keep him from being baptized (Acts 8:35-36). He was told to confess Jesus was the Christ; which he did (Acts 8:37); then we read: "And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him (Acts 8:38, emph. GWS). The next verse says they "came up out of the water" (emph. GWS).

Only immersion demands that the one baptizing and the one being baptized both enter the water. There is no example of anyone in the entire New Testament being baptized by any other method. Why does baptism require that someone be completely covered with water? Because it is a burial. Paul reminds the brethren in Rome of this fact.

Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:4-5).

We must be buried with Jesus to join in His death. As He was raised up and came forth from the tomb, so we arise and come forth from the watery grave. This death, burial, and resurrection form the heart of the gospel message (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Such is the figure of speech God used to explain the old man being put to death and a new man being raised up. Only immersion satisfies this imagery.

SINS ARE FORGIVEN IN BAPTISM

Why should a person be baptized? Some will answer, "Because Jesus was," or "Because it's commanded," or "To join a church." As always, the correct answer to this question can only be found in the Scriptures. But before considering the design of baptism, let's answer another question: "Were people baptized in the New Testament?" Of course, the answer is, "Yes."

The Book of Acts continues the history of the disciples after Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 were baptized (Acts 2:41). The men and women of Samaria (including Simon the Sorcerer) were baptized (Acts 8:12-13). As previously noted, the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized (Acts 8:35-39). So was Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:18).

At the house of Cornelius, Peter commanded that the first Gentiles "be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). The Philippian jailor was baptized sometime after midnight (Acts 16:25, 33). Paul found twelve men in Ephesus who had been baptized into John's baptism; he baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:3-5). In short, every time the gospel was preached, the people were baptized. But for what reason?

The purpose for baptism is stated in the very first sermon preached on the day of Pentecost. When Peter convinced the people that the Jesus whom they had crucified was the Son of God—and had been raised from the dead—they asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter answered, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…" (Acts 2:38). When a person believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and has repented of his sins, he will be baptized so his sins may be forgiven.

Many people think that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus, but his sins had not been forgiven yet—not at the point of faith, even when it was coupled with repentance. When Ananias came to him, he told him to "arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Sins are removed by the blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5) when we are baptized.

Someone might say, "I don't see what water has to do with it." Neither did Naaman the Syrian understand what dipping in the Jordan River had to do with removing leprosy, but when he obeyed, he became clean (2 Kings 5:11-14). Baptism is the "operation" or "working" of God (Col. 2:12), in which He takes the blood of Jesus and washes away our sins. Baptism is the means by which we come in contact with Jesus' death—and all the benefits of that death. Consider Romans 6:3-4.

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.

By itself, baptism can accomplish nothing, but when it follows faith and repentance, it effectively removes (washes away) sins (Acts 22:16). In that regard, Peter writes that "baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21).

[The article on the first column of page 3 was published in the Denton Record-Chronicle on October 4, 1996; the second one was printed on October 11th. In this second article, some editor changed Philippian jailor to Filipino jailor. Not quite the same, is it?]